Whitehall To Hear Cement Dust Complaints

Complaints by Whitehall Township residents about emissions and dirt they say are coming from the Whitehall Cement Manufacturing Co. will be aired at a public meeting Thursday.

The meeting, at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building, will be held as the cement company awaits word on fines the State Department of Environmental Resources said it plans to issue for emissions violations at the Cementon plant last fall.

Whitehall Cement was cited after two inspections prompted by residents' complaints.

The public meeting is being sponsored by the Whitehall Township Environmental Advisory Council, whose members say the problems have continued in spite of DER action.

The council has invited representatives from both the cement company and DER.

However, DER has not notified the township whether it will attend and the cement company has changed its mind about attending.

In a letter to Township Executive Michael Harakal, the cement company said it has been advised by its counsel not to attend because of the pending DER citations.

Linda Snyder, advisory council chairman, said the meeting will be held regardless of whether the cement company and DER attends.

She said residents should have a forum in which to voice their opinions.

According to Snyder and other Cementon residents, heavy emissions have been coming from the company for the past two years and blanketing Cementon like snowfall.

They have questioned the content of the emissions and expressed concern for their health.

Residents say emissions have always come from the plant, but the problem has increased in recent years.

They blame the situation on poor equipment maintenance since the Dallas- based General Portland Cement Co. purchased Whitehall Cement two years ago.

DER has reported that eight of the nine problems for which Whitehall Cement was cited in October have been taken care of.

According to DER, the outstanding item involves the clinker conveyor belt, which moves materials outside of the building.

Rao Kona, air quality engineer, said emissions result when wind blows on the uncovered material.

He said Whitehall Cement has promised to repair and enclose the conveyor this spring.

Kona, who told The Morning Call the amount of fines would be determined by the company's response to the citations, said he is pleased with the company's response.

The amount of fines has been decided, Kona said, but he would not reveal the amount because notice has not been sent to the company.